Regime launches major aerial offensive on Khan Sheikhoun

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime forces launched major aerial offensive on the northwestern town of Khan Sheikhoun, carrying out more than 13 raids, senior Civil Defense worker said Saturday.

The regime's fighter jets and helicopters have used barrel and cluster bombs that left massive damage in the infrastructure of the key town in Idlib province, said Ziad Abboud, head of Civil Defense agency in Khan Sheikhoun.

Most of the surrounding towns and villages in the southern countryside of Idlib were also hit by the regime.

Russian and regime fighter jets have since late April ramped up deadly bombardment of the Idlib region of some 3 million people in northwest Syria, despite a deal to avert a massive regime assault.

More than 650 civilians have been killed in deadly campaign, monitoring groups and activists say.

Also, hundreds of regime fighters and jihadists and allied rebels were killed in northwestern Syria battles, the area that includes most of Idlib province as well as parts of neighboring Hama, Aleppo and Latakia.

Also, the spike in violence has caused 330,000 people to flee their homes since May 1, the UN has said.

A senior UN adviser on Friday voiced concern over the ongoing violence in northwestern Syria, decrying a distressing rise.

"An alarming intensification of daily violence continues in northwestern Syria," Najat Rochdi, senior humanitarian adviser to the UN special envoy for Syria, said in a statement.

Although Turkey and Russia have agreed to stop acts of aggression and turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone, the Syrian regime has consistently violated the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.

"Strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure – including de-conflicted health facilities and humanitarian workers – are absolutely unacceptable and may amount to war crimes," Rochdi added.

The adviser called on the member states to support the UN’s immediate humanitarian priorities, adding that "humanitarian needs are vast across Syria, an estimated 11.7 million people need assistance, 5 million of whom are in acute need."

Syria's war has killed more than 560,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests. (Zaman Al Wasl, Agencies)